A very compelling story from one of our beloved teens, Lorelei Shirey and her mother Michaelyn. The impact of The Rock is certainly tangible as you can see here. A big thank you to all of our staff and volunteers who make this place the wonderful environment that it truly is.

In this post, we will be focusing solely on Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation. You’ll notice the interview and the video sharing the story of Lorelei Boo Shirey, a teen attending classes at AC’s Solid Rock. They are both worth the watch. Alice remembers what it’s like to be ‘Eighteen’ and expresses his connection and love for teenagers – then explains why Solid Rock is an important piece of mentoring and loving them. It was great to hear from Alice and his mission for the ministry. However what stuck out most and was very impressive was the quote from Michaelyn Belford Shirey, Lorelei’s mother. She stated that (paraphrasing here), “we, as adults, remember our teenage years and how we felt…but that doesn’t mean we understand how today’s teens or our children feel. Even with all the love and support we can give on the outside, the state of their hearts on the inside may still be lost in darkness.” This was powerful and really encompassed what it seems the Alice Cooper Solid Rock folks are trying to help teens conquer and overcome – the DARKNESS.

Yesterday, ‘Fridays with Alice’ kicked off the 12 Days of ‘Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock’ Christmas. When this blog was first started, we knew Solid Rock and its mission would be a key part of the message conveyed by this project. A good part of Jesus’s ministry was focused on the lost and forgotten. Take a moment and step out of your adult life, think back to that time when you may have felt this way. Struggling to fit in, trying to hold firm to principles you knew were right but didn’t really flow with the waves of the world, etc. Maybe you still feel that way or maybe you are one of those teens reading this post. It doesn’t really matter – what does matter is all individuals deserve the respect and love of one another. We are COMMANDED to offer those things by our Lord (Mark 12:30-31). It’s not an option.

Alice mentions Solid Rock being a blueprint for other cities to follow. This is powerfully good word. There’s no motive behind his actions. His only motivation is to offer these teens a thriving environment free from the vitriol of this world. As a Christian, he feels it’s his responsibility to show that to them. He feels it’s his responsibility to show them grace. Offering them something they may not have access to without Solid Rock.

The ‘Fridays with Alice’ project has been an interesting journey. Judgment and slanderous things have been directed at Alice and our mission with this endeavor – some openly, others in private. However, focusing on the positives – let’s look at this from another viewpoint. It’s one thing to read and quote scripture to children and teens. It’s another thing to live out those scriptures before them. Some of you may remember a song written by the band Petra entitled, “Seen and Not Heard’ – focusing on our actions more than our speak. Stop and ask yourself this question, would you rather be seen living out His Word or shouting at others about what it is they should be doing or how they should be living? Seems living your own life and applying His Word to that is contagious. Look at how many want to join Alice’s cause (some Christians, some not) simply because he chooses to bear fruit and live out Christ’s message – planting seeds along the way. Think again about your life and the seeds that were planted, not by scripture, but by the actions of others. Others you knew were Christians because of their actions – not their meaningless banter about how others should be.

In conclusion, we are honored at the chance to sow into this ministry. One that lives out the call and mission of Christ! For us to LOVE OTHERS as ourselves, in turn LOVING GOD in the process. We hope you consider contributing to Alice’s mission and if you ever get the chance try and tour the Solid Rock facilities. See what they are doing there that works. We all have something we can give back. Money and resources are not always easy to come by – but time and purpose are FREE. Reach out and be that flicker of hope for a teen that is hurting. Show them the respect and love you wish you had been shown. Maybe you were one of those teens that found refuge in a place like Solid Rock. If so, use what you learned and how you were treated to pay that forward. Merry Christmas to you all and much love from those of us at ‘Fridays with Alice’.

NOTE: ’12 Days of ‘Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock’ Christmas’ is under way and will last from December 13th – 24th.

Ocean Floor Ministries, Audra J. Waters Ministries, and God Mode Activated have agreed to collectively match up to $1000 in donations to Solid Rock. We believe in the cause and the everlasting difference they are working to make in the lives of so many teens! To donate please visit our fundraiser at: https://www.facebook.com/donate/320825205188246/

We look forward to Christmas and the celebration of the most precious gift the Almighty ever gave us – his Son. Whatever small amount we can give back, will never be enough, and we give thanks for His Grace and Love. Merry Christmas!

For more information about Alice’s Solid Rock Foundation, you can click the links below and learn more about them:

Solid Rock is a Christian, 501(c)(3), Arizona nonprofit corporation. The Board of Directors is made up of Christian men and women dedicated to SRF’s purpose.

Started by Alice Cooper and friend Chuck Savale along with an eight member board of directors, incorporated November of 1995.

Solid Rock’s primary goal is to honor Christ by helping to meet the spiritual, economical, physical, and social needs of teenagers and children within our community.

To honor Christ by providing a facility geared toward teenagers that will help them to negotiate through the turbulent adolescent years. The relationally trained Christian staff, of men and women, and the different venues will create an atmosphere which will make it a place where they “hang out”. “The Rock,” the name of the building, will be designed to be a flexible needs structure centered around music. Programs will focus around a multi-use concert hall, coffee house (kitchen/snack bar for concert & other events), indoor basketball/floor hockey court, rock climbing walls, sound room and recording studio, computer/reading/study rooms, game room.

Their goal is to make an everlasting difference in the lives of the teenagers and children they are dedicated to helping.

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

“God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen”

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don’t want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

I was the boy who said all of my prayers Laid my clean face on the pillow Tucked in real tight, so safe and secure Through the night I heard a noise, it was probably nothing It pulled me right out of a dream If I knew it was you I’d have jumped out of bed with a scream I am the one who growls in your closet I am the one who lives under your bed

Get down, back where you started Get down, back into hell Your black soul, you know you’re black hearted I smell your sulfurous smell

All of my things that I play with in daylight
You turn into monsters at night
My toys were my friends
Until you taught them all how to bite
You showed me things little boys shouldn’t see
You scared me with visions of fire
You danced on my bed
With the flames on your head dancing higher
I am the one who growls in your closet
I am the one who lives under your bed

[Chorus]

I tell you right now
I don’t want your reptile embrace
I don’t want to follow you down to your place
I don’t want to be a child of disgrace
You can take your whiskey soaked, foaming
at the mouth, toilet talking, pea soup
Spewing, sweating blood demon breath out of my face

[Chorus]
I was the boy who said all of my prayers
Laid my clean face on the pillow
Tucked in real tight, so safe and secure
Through the night

In the first blog post, we discussed “Cleansed by Fire”, a powerful song of redemption and deliverance from the album entitled “The Last Temptation.” This week we look at “Lullaby”. Another song from that album which discusses one of the enemy’s age-old tools – Fear. The song finds Steven confronted by all sorts of evil staring him in the face and haunting him at night. The song has him lamenting for those evil creatures to leave him alone – cursing them back to Hell from which they came. Unfortunately, some children must deal with the evils their parents allow into the home. It’s up to us, as a body of believers, to teach all children the power they have through Christ, His blood, and His Spirit.

“Lullaby” is a powerful tune. Satan wants us to be fearful. Fearful of life, death, and everything in between. If he can keep us focused on fear, then we will never focus on Christ. Cooper takes an interesting approach by having Steven be such a young, innocent child. Scared of his room, the closet, etc. But it’s true, satan wants nothing more than to terrorize our hearts, minds, and souls from any stage of life he can grip. We must always be aware of his lies and know the truth. In 1 John 4:18, we find the Apostle John reminding us of God’s Love – a perfect love that casts out all fear. Fear is not from the Lord. His Love banishes it and replaces it with the purest forms of joy and love.

The Bible is full of narratives defining fear and leading us to Him as our refuge and strength. In fact, Psalms, on its own, is a candy store when it comes to verses showing us how to walk with Him without fear or threat from the enemy. Psalms 18 and 23 come to mind along with so many other verses guiding us to Him as our sanctuary from fear. Verses that teach us to place our lives into His care and how to walk with Him without anxiety or worry. The words and teachings in the Psalms written and spoken so methodically and beautifully make It sound so easy when you read them but it requires prayer, practice, and faith to apply the Word. As a child, we cry out for one of our parents for comfort and strength when the proverbial ‘boogeyman’ is after us. As adults, we tend to bury our fears deep within us building walls around them. Allowing them to separate us from joy, peace, and fellowship. When in reality, at any age those fears and anxieties need to be unwrapped – torn apart and laid before the Lord. Also though, they should be confessed to one another in Christ…so that they may be together as the body of our Lord cast out and buried – back to hell. Forgotten. No more. Fears, doubts, guilt, shame, etc. destroyed by the blood of our Lord.

This world can be and usually is pretty ugly. Murder, rape, famine, abuse, the list goes on and on. But there’s one thing absent from all of those heinous acts. Love. The Love of God knows not these things. God loves His children and wants the best for them. However, the opportunities are not always available for all of them to see His full radiance. That is where He has passed us the baton so to speak. He’s asked us to carry His banner into our neighborhoods, into our schools, into our places of work, etc. He’s called us to show and invite others into the fold. The world wants us to think we have no voice, that our days are numbered. That Christianity is a dying way of life. But the truth is, He’s alive and well – but the church is just now gaining back its voice. It’s time for us to once again proclaim Him as our source of strength and refuge. Not only for the sake of children – but for women and men alike. For we are all His children, at any and all stages of life.

We’ve been given the most awesome gift known to man. We’ve been bestowed the power, glory, and peace of the Holy Spirit. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do NOT let your hearts be troubled and do NOT be afraid.” Pretty awesome, right? So, once we’ve taken Christ as our Savior and invited Him, the Holy Spirit, to dwell within us. He bestows upon us the ability to leave fear behind – replacing it with the peace of Christ. However, pay close attention to those last lines – Christ requires us to rely on Him. He tells us “do NOT be troubled” and “do NOT be afraid”. “Doing” something requires action. We must desire and fully place our trust in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we study His Word, pray, and wait upon the Lord, we find Him showing up more and more. Often times in ways we don’t expect. However, it begins to become second nature for us to rely and trust Him. Replacing the anxieties of this world with His peace.

Let’s look at this song and these verses from two perspectives. One from a child’s perspective and the second from an adult’s perspective.

A Child’s Perspective. A child learns and mimics (for the most part) their surroundings. How were you raised? Did you come to know the faith at an early age? Later in life? Still searching? According to George Barna Research reports, 32% of professing Christians chose the faith between the ages of 5-12. That number drastically drops between the ages of 13-18 with only an additional 4% claiming Christ during the stages of adolescence. This means that close to 2/3 of the Christian population walked without Him during their most formidable years. Stop and think about that. Think about the lies, thievery, fear, doubt, shame, etc. the enemy has time to implant into those souls that have not yet come to know the peace and joy of our Lord. So, what can we do?

As a body of believers, it’s our job to find avenues for these children. Ways to show them His love and what life looks like with Him at the center. James 1:27 talks about the need for us to care for the widows and orphans of this world. Many might read this and think this only means to provide for their physical needs – shelter, food, etc. But what about their spiritual needs? We need to find ways to share with them, educate them, and help them to rely on Him fully. Giving them the tools needed to stand up to the enemy and not be absorbed with fear and the other lies he wants them to believe. Charities, organizations, and churches must stand firm in their faith – knowing that the freedoms of this country are still available for the church and Christians to share their faith with all who want to hear and know Him.

An Adult’s Perspective. As adults, we tend to believe the lies of this world more often than children. Children look upwards all the time. Up at the sink, up at the refrigerator, up at the television, up at their parents…up to their Creator. Children inherently know that there’s something greater than themselves. It’s only with time that they start to see the world is NOT so big, NOT so wonderful, and NOT so easy. Instead of looking upwards, humanity, with time and age, starts to look forward. At themselves in the mirror, at each other, at social media, at what they have and don’t have, etc. But what they fail to see is the lie. When we refuse to look up, it’s easy to believe that lie.

As believers, we have to apply the wisdom of His Word and know the difference between lies and truth. The truth is we all have a certain amount of ‘life’ garbage. Things in our past, our present, and things to come that will hinder and test our faith. The truth is God’s plan has us walking together. Sharing the garbage. Sharing our faith. Sharing His Love. The same Spirit that dwells within one Christian dwells also in another. In that spirit, the Holy Spirit, we are one. In John 17:11, Jesus called for believers to unite as one. This means the pains and joys of one believer should be shared with other believers. Allowing the Holy Spirit together in unity, to heal one another, rejoice with one another, and praising His name with one another. These are the things the enemy fears. The truth is satan wants us walking alone. Because alone he has power. Together with our Lord and with other believers he has none. It’s time for the body of Christ to turn the tables on the enemy. It’s his turn to walk in fear.

In conclusion, do you have someone to share with? Are you wrestling with something? Turning it over to the Lord will put you on the right track. But what God really wants is us working together through Him to help heal those hurts, right the wrongs, and bring glory to Him. The more we share the more we know that perfection is not possible, nor is it the goal. The goal is to have His name ringing out as Lord over all nations (Matt. 28:16-20). To do this we’ve been called to Love God, Love People, and live according to His Word (Matt. 22:36-40). Here’s to another week with Alice. Enjoy your weekend!

NOTE: There are many ways to get involved with others that need to know the love of our Lord. Check with your local churches, find ministries in your area (can usually be found through Google searches) to speak with about opportunities, and be open to prayer and guidance from the Spirit. Ask Him to help you find ways to make a difference, just don’t be shocked when that call is answered – and know it’s not always what you may have expected.

‘Fridays With Alice’ will soon be listing a number of different ministries across the nation that provide Christian-based outlets to both children and adults alike. What better place to start than with Alice’s very own Solid Rock Foundation.

For more information about Alice’s Solid Rock Foundation, you can click the links below and learn more about them:

Solid Rock is a Christian, 501(c)(3), Arizona nonprofit corporation. The Board of Directors is made up of Christian men and women dedicated to SRF’s purpose.

Started by Alice Cooper and friend Chuck Savale along with an eight member board of directors, incorporated November of 1995.

Solid Rock’s primary goal is to honor Christ by helping to meet the spiritual, economical, physical, and social needs of teenagers and children within our community.

To honor Christ by providing a facility geared toward teenagers that will help them to negotiate through the turbulent adolescent years. The relationally trained Christian staff, of men and women, and the different venues will create an atmosphere which will make it a place where they “hang out”. “The Rock,” the name of the building, will be designed to be a flexible needs structure centered around music. Programs will focus around a multi-use concert hall, coffee house (kitchen/snack bar for concert & other events), indoor basketball/floor hockey court, rock climbing walls, sound room and recording studio, computer/reading/study rooms, game room.

Their goal is to make an everlasting difference in the lives of the teenagers and children they are dedicated to helping.

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

‘Fridays with Alice…’ is beginning a new series called, “Spotlight on the Music”. We will be looking at how Alice Cooper has influenced pastors, musicians, fans, etc. with his music, faith, and philanthropy. We will also be discussing other talking points related to faith, music, community, etc. We are excited about this endeavor and look forward to sharing this journey with you.

In our first interview, Todd from ‘Fridays with Alice…’ sits down with Patrick Shipley, Founder & Bassist of Faith Head. It was a pleasure getting to know him and learning more about the band, their mission, and what’s new on the horizon. Patrick also shared his testimony, some stories about Alice, and the influence music has had on his faith and life. We look forward to talking with him again.

Todd:
When did you accept Christ?

Patrick:
I accepted Jesus Christ when I was 9 years-old. Like many of my generation that grew up in church we found Jesus early in those days. I felt Him in my heart and could hear His discernment in my mind. It really wasn’t until in my teens I really understood the destructive nature of sin and how it severs your relationship with the Holy Spirit. I rededicated my life to Jesus when I was 16 years-old. When I turned 18 years-old, I wanted to be and was baptized as an adult.

Todd:
Any specific testimony or story?

Patrick:
Music is a big part of my life and was even as a pre-teen. My father is a piano player and my brother is a guitarist. Growing up in the rural South, music was really the only way we got to discover and learn about the world. We only had the three major television networks, the encyclopedia, the newspaper and whatever magazines our parents would let us buy. There was no internet yet. As a teen I played bass in church and played around the South with a Gospel group. It was fun times. I started preaching at 18 years-old, but I got some bad advice from a trusted friend in my early 20’s.

He told me I needed to live a little and experience the world before I should be telling people how to live their lives. That sent me on about a 7-year journey, much like the prodigal son. Even though I was living a very self-indulgent life style, I know God was with me. I really should be dead.

There’s no need for the gory details but I tried living the sex and rock n’ roll lifestyle. I have never done drugs, none what so ever. All my peers pawned off all their guitars and amps for drugs or strip club money. I worked hard for my musical gear. If I didn’t have gear I couldn’t play and that was the high I was after on stage: applause. It fed my ego and kept me trapped in Satan’s grasp. During those times I did drink enough to float a boat, but I always seemed to be the responsible one. There were very few occasions where I let loose. I did have limits in those days. I credit my parents prayers for keeping me from dying or going to jail.

I don’t share this story often because it’s very painful but it’s a part of my testimony. At the end of my prodigal road, I tried doing one last secular band just for fun. To make a long story short my guitarist at the time was going through a divorce. I was driving him home one afternoon. As we were talking, he told me he just had no hope and he was very depressed. In my mind I knew I needed to tell him he needed Jesus, but my life wasn’t reflective of a believer of Jesus Christ. The only words I could find to tell him were “you need to pray.” That would be the last time I spoke with him, because a few days later he killed himself. I had never been to a funeral of a suicide before. It was a horrible experience. I told myself from that moment on I would never allow myself to be in that position again, to where I couldn’t share the Gospel because my life. Even today I still carry the scar of that on my soul.

I laid down my instruments and waited. I told God, if you want me to play music its only going to be for Him and His kingdom. Three and half years went by until an opportunity presented itself. I was in that Christian Alt-Rock group for a year. When that band disbanded, I joined a Christian metal band which lasted for about a year before it imploded. About a year after that, God gave me the inspiration and vision for Faith Head. The rest is history you can read on our website.

Todd:
Did Alice’s music influence you as a musician? If so, which songs, style, how, etc?

Patrick:
Before I was a musician, I knew who Alice Cooper was. My uncle had a huge vinyl record collection. The one that always stood out was Alice Coopers “From the Inside” which had a double foldout on the front of his face and on the inside of the hospital was a door flap you could find Alice. On the back was the doors to the hospital with him leaving discharged. It was probably one of the most interesting vinyl covers I have ever seen. As a kid it was like a pop-up book. Those album covers primed me and my curiosity.

The first Alice Cooper album I bought was “Constrictor” which is one of my favorites. It was probably the fourth album I ever bought. Immediately after than bought “School’s Out”. I was hooked after that. Dennis Dunaway had a major influence on my bass playing. I would go as far to say the bassist community had probably under-rated him. If you listen to those earlier albums he was ahead of his time in some areas. Particularly, the “Alley Cat versus the Jets” has a bass intro that was unlike anything at the time. The droning of open notes and strumming of chords on bass to my knowledge hadn’t been done before. You wouldn’t hear anything like that again until Lemmy of Motorhead does it with a distorted bass. I mainly play with my fingers but if I grab a pick my approach goes to this Dunaway/Lemmy style of right-hand technique. Gene Simmons of Kiss imitated it a little as well in the early Kiss albums too if you go back and listen to “Rock and Roll All Night” and “100,000 Years.” But overall the tone of the music and the lyrical approach to song writing influences me as well. I could give you a doctoral thesis on it.

Todd:Any specific ‘Alice’ moments to discuss? Is it Christian related (doesn’t have to be of course)?

Patrick:
There are several but one that is special to me I will share. I don’t remember the exact details. Back in the day it was cool to have a killer stereo system. I was blaring out some Alice Cooper in my room. My father heard the song “Second Coming” of the “Love It to Death” album which Bob Ezrin plays this beautiful piano piece. It is a great song about realization of the sinful world we live in and at the end of the song’s perspective changes to the perspective of Christ. Go read the lyrics when you get a chance. We talked about it for a little bit. Shortly thereafter I heard my father playing it on the piano. It’s a special moment for me because we don’t have that many of them between us.

On the early albums it seemed like Alice always had a song pointing to redemption, pointing to God or pointing to a savior. There was gap after “Welcome to my Nightmare” where you didn’t get those songs until the “The Last Temptation” in 1994. I think it was a tithe for Alice to have one song dedicated to the Lord on each album. When “Brutal Planet” came out then I had no doubt that he wasn’t shying away from his Christian worldview anymore.

During my prodigal years, those tithe songs kept me anchored to my faith. I say anchored in the sense of they reminded me of where I was from and who I was from when I tried to redesign my self in to who I thought I wanted to be. The “Second Coming” song’s melody and lyric hung with me all those years. “It would be nice to walk upon the waters and talk again to angels at my side.”

Slayer, Metallica, Danzig and all those that took me to a dark place in my heart I got out of my house. There were certain albums and certain songs that could work me up in to a rage. Therapeutically it might have helped me but spiritually it didn’t. When you turn to something else to deal with your stress other than Christ you’re relying on an idol. I had many idols I needed to get out of my house. When I purged my music collection of all the negative music in it, all the Alice Cooper albums all stayed.

Now that I’ve matured in my faith, I could probably own them again but there’s nothing profitable to owning them again. Some people thought I was crazy, but it made me a more stable person, father, husband and brother for doing it.

Todd:How does knowing Alice through Spirit, as a brother in Christ, affect you as a Rock musician?

Patrick:
Knowing that he is out there using his music to point people to the Gospel gives me hope that Faith Head can do the same. As a performer you must have an entertainment element to your stage performance and music but having that underlying message of hope redeems it all. Alice being who he is gives us all someone to look to for inspiration and direction.

Todd:The world, including the Christian world, often outcasts rock/metal musicians whether they are Christians or not. How does Alice claiming Christianity help or hurt the movement in your opinion?

Patrick:
I think the biggest benefit to Christianity is Alice keeps the Christian worldview in the public square. He is very bold about it these days. The fact that he gets to interact with people like Rob Zombie and Marylin Mason and live out his faith in front of them is inspiring to me. He gets to live out his faith on the world stage which is awesome.

Obviously, he is a man that plays a character that reflects culture on stage that some believers have issues with, but no one gets mad at an actor for playing a villain in movie or playing the devil on television. If Alice was his true persona on and off stage, then I would have a problem. The church needs to get past this because it doesn’t make sense. There are many things that the church seems to have an issue with that aren’t logical from my perspective.

One of the most illogical issues of the church is the need to ostracize the Christian Rock community. Southern Gospel music is Christian Country. Instead of I lost my dog, my wife and my trailer so I am crying in my booze it’s I found my Jesus. Its completely ridiculous. Instead of the style of music we should be worried about the substance of what’s being said. We still struggle with that “form over substance” issue. I include myself in that criticism because I am just as guilty of it myself. The church should be more critical about what’s being said in the lyrics than what style of music they are being sang to honestly.

There are too many God-or-Girlfriend songs out there. The Alice Cooper song “Brutal Planet” is more a Gospel song than many of the songs you hear on contemporary Christian radio. “Amazing Grace” never says the name of Jesus but is heralded as one of the greatest Christian hymns. I am not saying it isn’t a Gospel song, but I use it as an example of how we as believers should scrutinize the true meaning of the lyrics. I could keep going but beyond this it would become a rant.

Todd:Finally, tell us about your music career. How long have you been in Faith Head? What would you like folks listening to this to know about Faith Head. How can they learn more and follow you?

Patrick:
My testimony contains a great of my musical career as you’ve seen thus far. Much of the Faith Head story is documented on our website, but in short, the band really took off in 2017. The inspiration came to me in late 2015 and it took most of 2016 to find the right people. The premise was to write and perform music that glorified God with people I enjoyed and connected with and most importantly were believers. The vision was that simple and God has blessed it.

Our debut album “Are you a Faith Head?” landed at #6 on Metal Pulse Radio’s Top 10 album of the Year in 2016. In 2017 Faith Head was nominated by Independent Artist Magazine for Best Male Artists of the year. The band was featured in the documentary “Metal Missionaries” in September 2017. The group also toured on part of the southeast leg of The Extreme Tour in 2017. We were the first Christian hard rock act to perform at the Gospel Spin Awards in Atlanta, GA in October 2017.

In 2018 we’ve had some turnover in the band, not unlike any other musical group, but we’re still moving forward. God has been good to bless us with opportunities. God opened doors for us to play the Ignite Festival northern Pennsylvania and Nehemiah Fest in Kansas City in September this year. 2019 should be a very busy year for us with our second album coming out in March. Plus, we’re going to try with God’s help to stretch our legs a little further to reach audiences further outside of Southeast region.

For us as individuals Faith Head is a big cost and risk. None of the money from merch sales goes in to our pockets. It all goes back in to keep Faith Head going. All the monthly expenses are paid by the members. We hope God will bless us in 2019 to be self-sustaining. That’s the goal and what we’re praying for in the future.

Our ministry most times is one-on-one with other musicians we share the stage with and when the opportunity presents the audience. The audience gets the Gospel from the music, but we get live out our faith in front of our fellow musicians like Alice. Playing music on stage is a bonus. If you are recent convert to the faith, our music should help you make that transition off the negative music. It will allow you to scratch that heavy music itch without compromising your spiritual health.

A big and cost-free thing the people can do is follow us on Spotify, Apple Music or whatever your streaming source of preference is and follow us on social media. More importantly please engage us on social media. We need to hear from you. Sometimes your comments and words of encouragement get us through some tough times. As musicians we write music in a vacuum and we trust God to inspire us to write what people need to hear from Him. But we’d like to hear from you if our music is helping you get through some tough times too .. like some of Alice’s songs did for me.

To steal a line from Henry Rollins we are nobodies from nowhere. We are a few blessed guys who God has given talent and allows us to do so under the banner of His name. We have no delusions of grandeur. Everything that has happened for us has been because of His will, and not our own. We acknowledge our part is to do the work. We must play the instruments, we must pen the lyrics and create the performances but its all derived from Him. We’re compelled to do it. The minute it’s about me or anyone else or money, its over.

If you stream music, please stream ours. If you download music, please download ours. If you like buying CDs, we’ll be glad to sell you one. We’ve got all types of merch to fuel this ministry. But most importantly share our music with those you think need to hear it.

For more information and to follow Faith Head on Social Media, check out the following:

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

“God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen”

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don’t want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation for eternity

Any chance of salvation
Someone died for me
Washed in blood, he cared enough to pity me

Why do I care?
What’s wrong with me, my hate is gone?
Why do I care?

When did I change?
What’s different now, it’s very strange?
When did I change?

Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation for eternity
Any chance of salvation
Someone died for me
Washed in blood, he cared enough to pity me

In my heart, in my soul
Some thing’s new, that’s very old
Like a pain that’s finally gone
I feel my heavy burden lifted

Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation
Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation for eternity

Salvation
Salvation
Salvation
Salvation

“Along Came A Spider” is another concept album, this time dealing with the life of a sociopath. A serial killer. Much like the characters in “Silence of the Lambs” and “Red Dragon”, this character believes he’s the manifestation of something wicked, foul, grotesque. In this case, he’s the ‘spider’. The album goes on to explain the inner workings of his mind. Tracks like “Vengeance is Mine”, “Catch Me If You Can”, and “Wrapped in Silk” show the torment of his sickness and the pain he endured from his past – reeking havoc on those in his present. The album takes a pleasant but very unexpected turn at the end.

“Salvation” is the last track on the album. It brings the character (later revealed as Steven – a common pawn in Cooper’s stories) to an unanticipated place. I believe the song was meant to be a dialogue between him and God. In some ways, it reminds me of the conversation between the thief and Christ as they both hung on their crosses. In Luke 23:40-43, all the thief had to do was accept the fact that Christ was who he said he was. Asking for Christ to remember him, Jesus replies, “Truly I telly you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Absolutely incredible that this man, a criminal, simply asks and Jesus without hesitation is like, “Sure, you’re in!”

Scripture Reference:“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

A similar story leads us to arguably, the greatest missionary in the Bible. In Acts 7:54-60, we find Stephen, one of seven leaders in the early church, in a pretty tough situation. He’s basically just called out everyone in the temple blaming them for the death of Christ and rejecting the Holy Spirit. This didn’t go over very well. In return, he’s dragged out of the city and stoned to death. The verses do not name any of the parties involved except Saul. While he did not participate in the murder of Stephen, he witnessed and supported it. In fact, Saul launched a full scale assault on Christians after the death of Stephen. He literally vowed to destroy Christianity through the persecution of Christians and, if need be, their deaths.

In Acts 9, Saul has gone to the high priest seeking permission to travel abroad, capturing men and women who profess to follow Christ, and imprisoning them as he traveled. With their permission, he set out for Damascus – ready to end Christianity once and for all. However on the road, he encounters Christ in full radiance.

Blinded by this encounter Saul follows the instructions Christ gives him and is later healed. As a result of his encounter, Saul is saved. Jesus met him on the road to destruction and brought him full circle to the road of recovery. The deeds he had done and was doing were not enough to keep Christ from calling, using, and freeing Saul from his sins. His conversion serves as a sign to all walks of life (both Jew and Gentile) that Christ’s blood covers any that follow his commands to place Him as Lord of their life.

Saul’s conversion turned the Book of Acts and the history of the church in a completely new direction. Saul’s transformation not only proved that an enemy to the faith can become a leader – but also a newfound purpose to bring Christ to all who walk on the earth (Jew and Gentile alike). It’s truly amazing what the redemptive power of our Lord looks like.

Another story, one that better fits Alice’s concept album, is the story of Jeffrey Dahmer. We all know the heinous crimes this man committed while on this earth, yet many may not know that he accepted the invitation of salvation through Christ and died as a brethren of the faith. Roy Ratcliff, the pastor that performed Dahmer’s baptism and met with him weekly, openly discussed his experiences with Dahmer and brought about thought provoking insight to the power of salvation and the Blood of Christ.

His book entitled, “Dark Journey Deep Grace: Jeffrey Dahmer’s Story of Faith” discusses the nature of his discussions with the serial killer along with the questions and push back he’s received about the sincerity of Dahmer. Questions like, “Was and could Jeff really be saved? Were his sins taken away? Is he a Christian believer? Did he repent of his sins?” Ratcliff’s response to these questions is jaw dropping to say the least. He replies by asking, did these Christians really believe “the blood of Christ shed on the cross was somehow too weak, too thin, too anemic to cover” the sins of Jeffrey Dahmer? Do we place similar restrictions on Christ’s blood with regard to some folks in our own lives? People that have not committed anywhere near the same deeds as Dahmer, yet we deem them outside the scope of salvation and/or the power of His precious blood.

In conclusion, these stories are full of hope and purpose, yet they are also a bit unsettling. I must admit as a red-blooded Conservative American, I struggle with wanting to forgive and forget the actions of a man like Dahmer or even a modern-day Saul/Paul. There’s a part of me that believes a .45 to his temple would be legit and warranted. But as I continue to walk this journey with my Lord, I pray He continues to chip away at the man that sees a man like Dahmer as an irreconcilable soul and replaces that man with one that sees Dahmer as a damaged soul with the very same need for “Salvation” from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) yet “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Other verses about Salvation: Hebrews 7:25, Philippians 3:4-11

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

In the beginning I was just a shadow
In the beginning I was alone
In the beginning I was blind, living in a world devoid of light
In the beginning there was only night

I was shattered, left in pieces
And I felt so cold inside
Then I called you from the darkness
Where I hide

I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you

In the beginning you were revelation
A river of salvation and now I believe

All I wanted, all I needed
Was someone to rescue me
I was drowning, I was dying
Now I’m free

I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you

Here I am now, I can stand now
Cause your love has made me strong
And forever you’re the singer
I’m the song

I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you

I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you
I am made of you

‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare‘ was released in 2011, some 30+ years after the original ‘Nightmare’ album was released. Once again, this ‘Nightmare’ is a concept album, like the first. Once again, Steven’s nightmares take us on a journey. This time ones that depict Hell and some tongue-in-cheek examples of the horrible things that can be found there. An interesting approach finds Kesha playing the part of Satan.

“I Am Made of You” is a masterpiece. It’s the first song on the album and opens with the same eerie piano riff from the song ‘Steven’ (found on the original ‘Welcome to My Nightmare’ album) but then it quickly turns into a symphonic rock ballad. One that finds the singer working through three parts of his despair – exasperation, expectation, and ending with exaltation. It may very well be the greatest song in his vast catalog of music. This post will look at this song from a few different scenarios. While the song can be interpreted many different ways, we will focus mostly on David and the Psalms during this post. However, as you listen to the song, it definitely applies elsewhere in scripture. The stories of Adam, Abraham, Moses, etc. apply. This song at some point defines everyone’s walk with Him. Those tough pills life sends us to swallow. The ones that push our faith the hardest. The places where real growth take place.

In Psalms 13, David’s words very closely relate to the first few lines of ‘I Am Made of You’. He’s found pleading with God using the words ‘how long’ four times within the first two verses. It’s obvious he is trapped in some sort of darkness and despair – even physically spending time in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 21:15-22:2). However, he remains vigilant, faithful, and holds on to his trust in the Lord. It seems easiest to give up and lose hope in those dark times, yet doing so only leaves you consumed by despair and ruin. Perseverance and faithful intention allow God to move. But His timing is not the same as ours. Hold on and wait for His breakthrough to happen. Looking back on His plan is often easier than looking forward. Seeing where He’s brought you is usually much easier than learning or discovering where He wants to take you (or how and when He answers that next prayer or supplies you with the next steps).

The next few stanzas after the chorus lead to “…revelation, a river of salvation and now…” belief. Even while standing in faith, it’s often difficult to see the way out. The picture is fuzzy yet the evidence of His workings are right there in plain sight. Our faith is intact, but logic and reasoning demand the evidence be blatantly obvious. As humans, we often allow our surroundings, current events, and other intangible factors dictate our moods and mindsets. Instead, we should strive to work diligently at giving Him praise in all things and at all times – no matter the circumstances. Cling to David’s words in Psalms 13:5, trusting in the unfailing love of our Creator – ultimately, leading to a heart full of joy founded on His saving grace. As the song exclaims, revelation and salvation pulls you from despair into the arms of freedom. Freedom in your walk, freedom in Christ to do, give, and be who he wants you to (peacefully) be. We must learn to recite the words of scripture, fortifying our hearts, minds, and souls. Knowing that the declarations made in those words are solid foundations for our lives.

By the end of the song, the singer has come to realize that through God’s Love and us being His creation we find our strength. Knowing that He is the composer, we are merely His songs. That’s fascinating. Much like David writes in Psalms 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” We are created in the image of God, His character has been interwoven into us all. Worthlessness and self-loathing come straight from the enemy’s playbook – lying in wait to feed you lies and deceit about who you are. Truth is, the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. Knowing this, we should have as much respect for ourselves as our Creator has for us.

In conclusion, stop and think about who you are and what you were created to be. It’s really quite simple to be who and what we are created to be. Each person’s mold is completely different, yet the same Creator placed within each of us His own ‘witness marks’ – hints and indentations of Himself – placed there for us to pull love, strength and understanding from when it seems none of those things can be found. Be who He’s created you to be and pull strength from that – knowing that His Love is sufficient when nothing this world has to offer is.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

In this interview, Life Focus Ministries sits down with Alice and Sheryl Cooper along with their family to discuss the value of Christian upbringing, prayer, and other relevant topics. It’s a 25+ minute interview but well worth the watch. Some of the content has been discussed in other ‘Fridays with Alice’ posts, but we will be focusing on the new topics that were covered. Again, it’s fascinating to see how committed this family is to each other and the Lord. At a pivotal moment in Alice’s life and career, Sheryl refuses to allow him to self-destruct. Ultimately, her act of love not only saves his life but permits him to once again embrace his faith and allow God to use him despite his past and reputation. Thus, creating an even stronger force and persona – one that has no shame in giving God the glory for his salvation and survival.

There are six topics to focus on in this post. In no particular order, we will discuss the Power of Prayer, Crutches, Intervention, Healing, Putting God First, and Common Denominators.

The Power of Prayer. The word pray is used 313 times in the Bible (KJV) which makes sense if you consider its meaning. The word prayer means an address (or petition) to God in word or thought (but it also means listening for Him to speak as well). Prayer is a simple yet complex topic. We could spend a series of sermons and posts addressing prayers in the Word. In the interview, Sheryl explains that she gave Alice and his addiction up to God in prayer. There are two passages that do a great job depicting the power and need for prayer. In James 5:16-18 it says, “the prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective…” going on to describe how when Elijah prayed for rain to cease it did and when he prayed for it to rain it did as well. While in 1 Timothy 2:1-5, Paul protests that we should pray for all people – including our government officials. It’s as if God has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our discussions and pleading with Him. But don’t stop there – take time to research and study more about the power of prayer and the prayers spoken in the Bible. Don’t be afraid to quote scripture or reuse the ones spoken in the Word. The Lord’s Prayer (spoken by Christ in Matt. 6:9-13) holds so much truth, knowledge, and wisdom own its own – it’s no wonder so many churches recite it weekly during their services.

Crutches. Alice speaks about a time when he needed to have a drink before interviews, before stressful events, honestly before just about anything. He needed that drink. He empowered alcohol, allowing it to falsely provide him with support and/or reassurance. But the Truth is, Christ placed Himself in that role. In 1 Peter 2:24 it reads, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” Instead of turning to that one thing that you think is empowering you, try leaning heavily on Christ instead. Rather than turning to a substance or some other ritual, start replacing those things with prayer and scripture. Look for passages and prayers that provide you with peace and hope. Start asking for your heart, mind, and soul to move towards allowing His Spirit to become your support and reassurance. Allow Him to be what he wants to be in your life, what He chose to be for you.

Intervention. Proverbs 19:21 reads, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Think about this verse, really soak up that wisdom. Sheryl states that she was not going to sit idly by and watch Alice succumb to his own fate. It was through prayer and loving intervention that Alice’s life was spared by her diligence and the power of our Lord. God does not expect us to allow those we have been given relationship with to suffer. He expects us to intercede but only with Love and proper Intention. Judgment and shame are not proper tools for intervention. An open heart and mind shows us that all humanity has fallen short and require His intervention. When the Lord is leading you to intervene on someone else’s behalf be sure you can stand in Righteous Authority on His Word, but remain humbled, slow to judge, yet quick to react. Place yourself in that person’s shoes while keeping in mind those moments in life when the Lord or someone else intervened for you. If you can’t think of any, think instead of Christ on the cross – the ultimate intervention for the sake of humanity.

Healing. Much like prayer and many other topics in the Word, a whole litany of sermons, messages, and series could be written about healing. There is so much to say. However, it seems healing begins with a willing heart – the understanding that there is a greater purpose and it begins with the repentant heart. Jeremiah 3:22 and 30:17 are great depictions of what the prophet foresaw in terms of humanity being healed by its Creator. In 3:22, Jeremiah predicted a day when sin would be seen for what it is. A day when the Lord would heal those caught in their wicked ways and return them to a state of understanding and love. In 30:17, again it talks about our health being restored after one allows the Lord to cure them from the disease of sin. This isn’t to say all disease and sickness is linked to sin. But there are definite instances in which it is. In Alice’s case, his addiction to alcohol kept his heart chained to that vice instead of it being surrendered to the Lord.

Putting God First. As a sobering mind replaced his drunken one, Alice spoke of the urge to rearrange his life – knowing that his priorities were out of whack, that he had not been giving proper attention to certain things in his life. One of those things being his Faith. He had grown up in the church and knew the Truth, but it was time to securely place that as his number one concern. In John 15:5 it states, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If we are the branches and Christ, through His Spirit, is the vine, our first and number one goal is to remain attached to Him. Because being cut off from the vine, any branch withers and dies. Everything else about that branch stems from the vine. By pulling nourishment from its source, it continues to grow, sprout leaves, produce fruit – all these things are evident based on its connection to the vine. When we allow God to be our top priority, we start to see other things in our lives prosper and grow as well. In fact, when our fruit starts to ripen and others begin to see our demeanor and purpose – they too may seek connection to our Lord. Alice goes on to say that, by excepting Christ, his career should by all means be over. A Christian in the world of rock and horror is quite the oxymoron. Yet instead of his faith being a hindrance to his career, it seems it is instead peaking, and he has no plans of calling it quits any time soon.

Common Denominators. We live in divisive times. However, the world has always been somewhat divided. There is really nothing new under the sun. Afterall, the second generation of man brought us Cain and Abel – the story of brother killing brother. But let us not focus on our differences but instead on our common denominators. We all need air, water, shelter, etc. – some basic laws of nature. But yet there is more. We all contain a God-shaped Hole in our hearts as well. That longing to know His Love, to know there’s more to this life. Alice points out the fact that music is also a common denominator. A universal bridge between age, race, creed, etc. Life has many other bridges that connect us. Sports, Art, Entertainment, History, the list is literally miles long when reaching for points of commonality between individuals. In Philippians 2:3 it states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”. This in no way implies that we must agree with or condone the actions of others. However, it would be a much better approach to find something of interest and build a relationship with others around that instead of lofting pithy comments and loathing others for their opinions and stances. Think of Christ. In almost all of his interactions, he bestowed basic human needs upon others with humility – washing feet, healing the sick, providing food, performing miracles. He was willing to connect with others based on what they, as humanity, had in common.

Concluding this week’s post, there’s a lot to chew on in this interview. I hope you not only read this post but watched the interview as well. As the “Fridays with Alice” community has grown, so have the questions we’ve received. Is Alice really a Christian? Why are his shows still bloody and gruesome? Why doesn’t he do things differently? Why is he not a Christian artist? Listen, only Alice has the answers to such questions. What can be depicted from his interviews, songs (especially since The Last Temptation), and philanthropy, is a heart and mind yearning to make this world a better place. He also claims that his survival and salvation are attributed to his accepting Christ as his savior. He lightly touches on a song in the interview entitled, “I Am Made of You”. Next week’s post will focus on that song which absolutely spells out who we are in Christ – it’s a masterpiece. Those lyrics together with the last 20 seconds in the above interview should leave no one questioning the heart of Alice Cooper. We leave you with those last few words from that interview:

“Yes, I’m a Christian. Folks ask me what does that mean? Well, it means I have a relationship with Christ now, I’m a disciple of Him. I try to live the life He wants me to live. Does that mean I can’t be a singer? No, he made me a singer. He said this is what you were made to do. Go do it!” – Alice Cooper

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

“God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen”

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don’t want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

You get up every morning on the wrong side of the bed
You butter your hand instead of the bread
Drink enough coffee to wake the dead.

You’re doing 85 and the light is turning red
The judge took your license and forbid you to drive
And your heart is pumping bacon and you’re barely alive

You’re your own worst enemy
You’re a walking catastrophe
You’re at war with yourself and nobody else
You’re a danger, you’re a danger

You trip on your shoelace and fall on your face
Your hair is a mess, your clothes a disgrace
Your stocks went south and your girlfriend is gay
Your dog ate your cat and that was your good day

You’re your own worst enemy
You’re a walking catastrophe
You’re at war with yourself and nobody else
You’re a danger

You’re your own worst enemy
You’re a walking catastrophe
You’re at war with yourself and nobody else
You’re a danger. You’re a danger
To every stranger
You’re a mess
Yes, yes

“Dirty Diamonds” is Cooper’s 24th studio album – released in 2005. The album is a back to the basics Rock album. It has no theme per se. Some songs that we will most likely revisit from the album include: “Perfect”, “The Saga of Jesse Jane”, “Run Down The Devil”, and “Stand”. A good portion of the album has a comedic feel and vibe about it. It’s one of the more light-hearted in his repertoire of albums.

“Your Own Worst Enemy” is a track that spoke to me on an intimate level. To think about all the times when I have been the biggest hindrance to my faith and walk is a daunting but needed task. True reflection is often hard to digest but almost always provides a way for adjustment and growth. The truth is, God wants us to be in communion with Him. Walking step by step together with Him or having Him carry us when needed. I personally believe that trying to do it alone is the greatest mistake any Christian can make. Life is a daily struggle – a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute ordeal. He wants nothing more than to be a part of that struggle – rejoicing with us during the highs and lifting us up during the lows.

For me, I’ve found that even when the Lord has shown me His plans in a specific area or provided me with a specific calling, I’ve still tried to make that happen without continuing to further ask for guidance and direction. Just because the Lord opens a door or plants a vision doesn’t always mean you’re going to be provided the means for those things to happen. Often times, He will want to try, test, and prepare your heart, mind, and soul for whatever the next step may be. Of course, this isn’t always the case. The only way to truly know is by holding strong to the Word and by regularly communicating with Him in prayer. How many times have we kept ourselves from allowing God to move and take us deeper on our journey with Him?

While there are many examples of men and women in the Bible self-destructing for various reasons, the one that almost automatically comes to mind is the story of Moses. Of course, Alice’s song is meant to be satirical in nature. The lyrics of the song don’t apply to the life of Moses. But he most definitely did mess things up for himself by using his own devices and methods instead of choosing to adhere to God’s command and authority. Before diving in to his story, stop and think about your own life. Are there areas where you aren’t listening? Other areas where you are listening, but instead chose a different path? Or maybe you’ve been given the call and shown the way but decide your way of handling things doesn’t need His approval or guidance. Let’s see where Moses went wrong in his journey with God. This is going to be the condensed version (which is honestly still pretty long). At some point, take some time and study each group of verses on their own.

NOTE: Before we even begin, it should be noted that God loved Moses, and held him in high esteem. His love is unconditional and is not based on obedience, works, etc. Even in his shortcomings, Moses still played a vital role in Judeo-Christian history and ultimately gave glory to God in the process. But indeed, he was his ‘own worst enemy’.

Seems the best way to tell Moses’s story is through a timeline of sorts. It’s quite a bit longer than most blog posts but the references and timeline will help paint the scenario. It will make sense at the end.

Exodus 2:1-10: The Pharaoh at the time of Moses’s birth decrees that all Hebrew baby boys should be killed in fear that one of the Israelites would one day rise up against him. Moses is placed in a basket by his mother and sent up the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter intercepts the basket and raises Moses as her own son.

Exodus 2:11-25, 3: Moses realizes his heritage and roots. After killing an Egyptian (who murdered an Israelite slave), Moses escapes as a fugitive and spends nearly 40 years in Midian as a shepherd. After creating a life for himself there, the Lord presents Himself as a Burning Bush and instructs Moses to return to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery.

Exodus 4-13: Moses pleads with the current Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. Pharaoh denies Moses multiple times resulting in numerous plagues upon Egypt. The final plague killed the firstborn sons and animals of Egypt – only the Israelites that marked their doors with sacrificed lamb’s blood were spared. After this plague, Pharaoh agrees to release the Israelites.

Exodus 14: Moses and the Israelites exit Egypt but not without Pharaoh deciding to apprehend them as they depart. The Israelites become trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s Army. Moses lifts his staff and the sea parts allowing the Israelites to pass through. After crossing through, Moses raises his staff and the waters close in on the Pharaoh’s advancing army.

Exodus 15-19: Through a series of miracles and obedience to God, Moses and the Israelites are provided with manna, quail, and water for survival. Moses gives praise and glory to God for that which He provides them.

Exodus 20: God summons Moses to the top of Mt. Sinai and delivers the Ten Commandments. God promises the Israelites that if they keep His commandments, He will go with them to the Promised Land.

God keeps His promise but not without the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, disobeying God, and questioning Him at every turn. How much easier could it have been for them had they not questioned Him and become so disgruntled with their surroundings? They were given everything they needed to survive – just not to their liking. Long story, shorter. The Israelites and Moses all have their complaints about the situation they are in. Some things the Lord provides – such as food, leaders, and land, but the Israelites decide they don’t have the manpower to take on Canaan – even after seeing the Lord provide and protect them previously. For not trusting Him, they are forced to wander 40 years in the wilderness. However even during those years, they wanted for nothing. God STILL blessed them.

To this point, Moses had given God praise and glory for what the Israelites had and were given. At times, he questioned and even seemed perplexed by what it was that God was doing. But he always gave God praise. This all changes in Numbers 20:10-11 almost 38+ years after they had begun wandering in the wildness. In those verses, we find Moses and Aaron pushed by the community to summon water from the rocks. Angered by those around him, Moses strikes the rock twice claiming, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” God provides the water, but Moses has taken the credit. For this, God refuses Moses from entering the Promised Land (but keeps his promise by allowing Moses to see it). Can you imagine? He’d done everything by the book up to that point. But then decided in a moment of rage to disobey and lose it all. It seems harsh and tough, but the point is Moses’s actions kept him from entering the Promised Land. Moses betrayed himself.

How does this story apply to your life? Your walk? Your journey with God? Even bigger question, based on the above scriptures, who are you? Are you Pharaoh? A member of his army? Are you an Israelite? Are you Moses? What have you witnessed in this lifetime? Have you sought out the Lord? Giving Him the praise and glory He deserves for what you’ve been given and have? It’s easy to gain possessions on this earth and not want for anything like Pharaoh. It’s also easy to follow the Pharaohs of this world wanting a piece of their pie or promised protection. The Israelites on the other hand were desperate – they saw and witnessed miracles but even that wasn’t enough for them. They needed more. Only Moses was willing to listen and obey on a regular basis. True, he slipped up when he didn’t give God the glory (which may have happened more than once – we don’t know for sure), but his example is a tough act to follow. What remains obvious is the fact that at some point, due to the nature of sin, every person (excluding Christ) has been or will be their ‘own worst enemy’.

In conclusion, we’ve become a society that loves to play the blame game. But the tough love, God’s honest truth of it all is that we are responsible for our own actions and consequences. At times, life isn’t fair – it’s true. But our reactions, lack of communication with the Lord, and unwillingness to adhere to His Word are to blame. The list goes on – David, Solomon, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, you, me, everyone is their ‘own worst enemy’. Luckily, we’ve been given a ticket to ride to glory despite that fact. The very person we are fighting with – ourselves – is the same person our Lord wants to call His own. Have you accepted Him? Or will you and your pride go down as being someone that eternally offended our Creator?

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

Hey bro, take it slow
You ain’t livin’ in a video
You’re flying low with a high velocity
No doubt, you’re stressin’ out
That ain’t what rock n’ roll’s about
Get off that one way trip down lonely street

Now I know you’ve been kicked around
You ain’t alone in this ugly town
You stick a needle in your arm
You bite the dust, you buy the farm

The follow-up to our special edition this week also comes from the ‘Hey Stoopid ‘ album and continues looking at the mental health of society – this time tackling suicide, depression, and addiction. In this post, we will be drawing inspiration from two elements – a very brief 2-minute interview with Alice and the title track from the album. The interview talks about depression and the mental health of society while the song’s message is powerful and continually questions the addict and suicidal thoughts of someone ready to end it all. It also features Slash and Joe Satriani on guitar with Ozzy Osbourne on background vocals as well.

This topic is not an easy one. It’s a personal one in some ways. I, myself, along with many friends have battled the anxiety monster at certain times in life, but I have only dealt with depression once – and it was a miserable, scary place. Like Alice admits in the video it was horrible. He goes on to say he’s only dealt with it once and has no idea what brought it on, but he used that time as inspiration – writing this song and taking on mental illness as a philanthropist and man of faith. While suicide is discussed and takes place in the Bible, it is never fully addressed. Therefore, instead of focusing on that – this post will use the Psalms and personal reflection to tackle the issue.

The book of Psalms is a roller coaster. The peaks and valleys of David’s faith are incredible. I’ve often been told – “the Bible is ancient. It has no bearing on my life today”, but my first response for anyone that makes that claim would be for them to read Psalms and Proverbs. Those books have so much to say about life and how to live it. In fact, there are so many verses such as Psalms 37:23-24 which really define life as a whole. Those verses read, “23 The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” In a nutshell, ‘life is hard, but as mishaps and blunders occur keep your faith intact and focus on Him.” When struggling with just about anything in life – Psalms and Proverbs, more often than not, hold the answers you’re looking for.

I’ve tried to keep these posts as general as possible for the most part. I want them to be global writings about how God can and does work throughout the Body of Christ. Something that unifies us all as one. However, it seems my story and battle with depression is one that should be shared. I’ll try to be brief and without too much detail.

My wife and I were blessed with 3 children within a 13 month period. After giving birth to our oldest, she became pregnant with twins. The twins were born 4 weeks premature and spent that time in the Orlando NICU. She would stay at the Ronald McDonald house caring for them at the hospital during the days and nights while I would work and care for our eldest daughter back home about 50 miles away. I have to admit during this time and the next 2 years life was tough, but it was such a blessing. While there were some valleys (probably more than I can remember), I remember more peaks and loved watching them grow. In my mind, we were set. We had just purchased our home, had three beautiful children, and I had just earned my Master’s degree. It was time to really start focusing on where life was going to take us.

Fast forward about five years. By this time, my wife and I now own 2 small businesses. Things are still pretty good. We are cruising along so to speak. Then we decide – ‘hmmm, maybe a fourth child could be an option.’ (I must admit – while I went along with this, I was secretly a bit apprehensive about having more children)…then she becomes pregnant for the third time. (Remember at this point, we’d been through a very rough time with our twins. It was an uphill battle during their first month of life, we had a few problems with their nutrition, some slight illness, etc.) So, this is when the story starts to get a little rocky. During the first ultrasound, we found 2 little bodies ‘cooking in the oven’. Yep, our 2nd set of twins were on the way. Imagine what my thought process was like being hesitant about a 4th child and then finding out there’s actually a 4th and 5th on the way.

This quickly became a vitriolic moment for me. I started to stew in fear, doubt, contempt, resentment, all sorts of feelings that looking back were so harmful to the entire process. Inwardly I was fighting a war, yet outwardly it seemed as if I was content about everything going on. There is so much more to this story. But I’ll condense it down to this – the next 2-3 years I spent my time allowing the enemy to sway my thoughts. Contempt, judgment, resentment all these bottled up emotions led me to a depressive state. I was going through the motions. Working, helping to take care of the kids, changing diapers, running a business (we had to close one of the businesses), etc., but with each passing day I was slipping further and further down into a depressive state. One that led me to full submission to our Lord. Which ended up being a blessing in disguise.

BRIEF SIDE NOTE: Look at how twisted the enemy makes things. Here I am with, now, 5 beautiful children. All precious gifts from the Lord – yet so many folks struggle to even have children. How selfish I had become. When we focus on ourselves, our ambition, our wants, etc. instead of on what He has given us and the road He has provided us with, we allow ourselves to live in a situation that, in hindsight, wasn’t so miserable after all. We created our own misery. Do your best to seek His face through such difficult times. Ask Him to control and guide your thoughts.

In a nutshell, I ended up needing some Christian counseling and mentoring to help me navigate that time period and see life from a better, clearer, eternal approach. While this battle with depression and bitterness was a heinous time period, it was during those months that God was preparing me for this. Ocean Floor Ministries was founded shortly after that time period, and the Lord has propelled me into a life of ministry after struggling through such a rough patch.

Since my time struggling with depression, I’ve come into contact with so many others that have been through it. Depression does not discriminate. It can affect all walks of life, all races, people with faith and without, and so on. And the circumstances are different with each person. Many come from horrible situations and dreadful acts of abuse while others may seem to have it all – money, friends, health, etc, yet on the inside seem trapped, desperate, and alone. Helping those that are hurting must come from the heart and be handled with no judgment. I thank God for my struggles and His grace and strength while overcoming them, and I believe the struggles I (we) endured serve as vessels with which to help others navigate those very same struggles. We are not meant to walk this earth alone. With Him at the helm and a host of others walking with us, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.

In conclusion, I apologize for the length of this post, but some things take a few more words to convey. If you are struggling with a mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc., seek help. Seek professional help. Seek the Lord’s help. Seek family and friends to share with. The bottom line is communication is the best remedy for these things. The enemy is a liar and a cheat. He wants you bottled up and silent stewing in darkness. He wants you to believe no one will understand or care. It’s a LIE! Truth is – if we would just open up and talk, we’d find so many going through the same battles and struggles. The same feelings, same scars, same fears that we have or have gone through. Don’t give in to those. Give them to the Lord. I’ll end on this note – I challenge you, whether you are struggling with any of the above or not, to start reading Psalms (and Proverbs) on a daily, monthly, quarterly, etc. basis. Make it a part of your routine in your spiritual journey with Christ. You’ll be amazed at the power and application those books have with regard to your life. Have a great weekend and God Bless!

FINAL, FINAL THOUGHT: I’ve never been ‘suicidal’ per se. But I did have one short-lived moment when, as a teenager, I thought it might be easier just to stop living. I didn’t dwell on it long…it was just a fleeting moment of weakness. However, this song hit me hard when looking back and thinking about those that decided they couldn’t bear living. While I think ‘Hey Stoopid’ does a wonderful job painting a better picture and challenging a person’s thought process and motive, this song shows us just how important it is to make sure all of God’s children know their worth and how much He loves them. The song is ‘For Annie’ by Petra – it’s a tear jerker. If you or someone you know is hurting, seek help – Jesus Loves You and wants to know you and help you through your ‘burden’s bear’.

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

They come here every night
I see them
Don’t you see them
Hmm that’s odd isn’t it
I’m so tired
I’m winding down
You’ll have to go now
It’s bedtime

Steven

‘Hey Stoopid‘ was released in 1991. This album featured a number of different artists from that time period including Slash (from Guns N’ Roses), Steve Vai, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Satriani, and many more. It is the follow-up album to ‘Trash’ and keeps that same tone and feel in many ways – it’s an ‘in your face’ sort of album.

‘Wind-Up Toy’ is the final track on the album and includes Joe Satriani on guitar. The song is the first time the character, Steven, reemerges after more than 15 years. The song definitely deals with the psychotic rants of someone that has been scarred, tortured, and/or abused in some form or fashion. There’s so many ways to look at the lyrics. Is Steven still a child – explaining how he feels? Is he an adult trapped in a mental state that forces him to relive his past – keeping him from being a responsible adult? Is he still stuck in the ‘Nightmare’? Is he in a mental ward, set apart from society and rotting away from the fears, rejections, and despair of his past? It seems all of these scenarios could apply. Either way he’s a troubled individual. And with any and all mental illness, there’s a certain amount of spiritual demise that comes with it. Satan wants nothing more than to lie to us and have us believe all the negative thoughts and feelings that accompany such illnesses.

In Romans 12:12, we find Paul pleading with the people. Telling them to, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Paul is telling them to be intentional and diligent in their faith. Don’t allow the uncontrollable variables in life to affect your heart, soul, and/or mind. The power and magnitude of our Lord is so much GREATER than our trials and tribulations. Seek Him as those things come and go – seek Him ALWAYS! Guard your mind against the slippery slope of depression and despair that parallels the thoughts we have when we focus on our surroundings and the events of this world. Vigilance in your faith and prayer is the key to warding off the enemy and keeping him at bay.

If you are someone that is struggling with mental health issues and thoughts, seek our Lord through prayer and the Word but also consult and pursue the counsel of a professional and others as well. Do your best not to allow the lies of the enemy and society to define and embody who you are. It’s a battle but one that you can win! The truth is – you are His, you are His creation, you belong. Our Heavenly Father wants nothing more than to be in communion with you through His Son and Spirit. It may be an uphill climb to get back on track, but it’s never impossible when faith and His Word are applied (Luke 1:37). When looking for a counselor, be careful. Often times medication might be needed, but applying and speaking His Word over the issue must not be ignored. Shots, meds, and shock therapy will never replace the fullness of God’s Love and acceptance. Let the words of Jonah 2:5-7 echo in your mind. That whatever darkness is surrounding you, He will bring you out of it. When life is fainting away, remember Him and send Him your prayers.

This leads to the final aspect of this post. How should we treat friends, family, and others dealing with some form of mental illness. Right off the bat, let’s settle something. It’s true sinful nature can be a cause of such illness, but it in NO WAY is the only cause. Love is the answer to helping those struggling with affliction. No amount of condemnation or chastisement is going to help another human being. Plus, we are not called to do so. The song speaks of Steven’s parents, the pastor, doctors, etc. all contributing to his state of mind. If instead he was approached by them with love and acceptance, would this maybe help change his morale? Speaking love, reading uplifting scripture, and praying with and for them is the proper approach. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the word of God is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword – it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In conclusion, it seems Alice has been labeled the ‘Santa Claus’ of Halloween. Therefore, it seems fitting that we focus today on this song. Alice deems this song the #1 scariest song in a list of others he’s ranked. It is pretty frightening to think about the things that go through the mind of folks struggling with mental illness. However, we should instead rebuke that fear and instead allow the TRUTH of His word to permeate into those that are suffering and our own lives as well. Stand firm on Isaiah 41:10, knowing that fear is not from God – instead draw strength from Him. Love and encourage each other through all of life’s trials and tribulations. Leaving you with this verse, know that His peace is pure and passes all understanding.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.“ – 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.

I never kicked a dog, a child or my wife
I never looked at pornography
I swear it on my holy saint mother’s life
But somehow she’s down here with me

The road to hell is littered with nice guys with good intentions
But once you’re there, you’re there, it’s much too late
I can cry and scream it’s just not fair
To leave me here like you don’t care
There must be some mistake up there in heaven

Now it’s much too late
My time has passed away
All my plans and dreams have all ended
Now it’s much too late
To try and plead my case
And I don’t know the God I’ve offended
It’s too late

I never stole a thing, a toy or a kiss
My conscience is a clear as can be
And when I was a teen, all the sex that I missed
Was an abstinence blessing to me

The road to hell is littered with nice guys with good intentions
But once you’re there, you’re there, it’s much too late
I can cry and scream it’s just not fair
To leave me here like you don’t care
There must be some mistake up there in heaven

Now it’s much too late
My time has passed away
All my plans and dreams have all ended
Now it’s much too late
To try and plead my case
And I don’t know the God I’ve offended
It’s too late

“Dragontown” is Cooper’s 22nd studio album – released in 2001. The album is a continuation of the themes found on the previous album, Brutal Planet. The nature of this world is really no different than it’s ever been in the past, but this album deals with the current events and state of affairs that have led us to an over-hyped hate and disdain for each other. Tracks like “Dragontown”, “Sex, Death, and Money”, “Sister Sara”, and “I Just Wanna Be God” lay the groundwork for where such lifestyles and behaviors can lead us.

“It’s Much Too Late” is a track that I think speaks volumes to our society – both Christian and non-Christian. It’s about a pious man that lives a life ‘littered’ with good intentions. While abstaining from the evils and vile of this world, he still misses the boat. He still never seeks out the love and relationship of His Creator. Instead of working so hard at being good, he should have laid his life in the hands of God asking for His guidance and accepting the call to Salvation. Instead, he chose a life of self-righteousness lived through deeds and works. Ultimately (and most likely accidentally), eternally offending the Almighty – condemned to Hell.

Hell. This is a topic that makes most Christians (including myself) uncomfortable. I don’t like the thought of anyone suffering here on earth or especially on an eternal level. Honestly, I don’t even like the thought of some terrorist or ruthless dictator going there. Sure, there’s times when we all might think, “Just wait – they’re gonna get theirs one day’. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit dwelling within every believer wants nothing more than to know each and every individual intimately on this earth – from the Billy Graham’s of this world to the Osama Bin Laden’s. We, as Christians, (should) want nothing more than to see every person on this globe in relationship with their Creator through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The song makes three key points that should be addressed individually. This post will focus on good intentions, offending God, and no second chances.

Good Intentions. Ephesians 2:8-9 sums up exactly what this song is stating. There’s no amount or measure of good works possible to save us from an eternal demise. Only through the salvation and grace found through Christ given to us through faith and belief in Him can one be received – it is a gift from God not some sort of penance or pension plan for a life lived abstaining from some special list of vices. Think about what it’s like to receive a gift from someone. Do you make plans to repay them for that gift or do you willingly accept it with gratitude, praise, and/or joy? God’s gift to humanity is salvation through His Son and no amount of performance, activity or special ability can repay Him for that. His Grace does not have to be earned, only accepted.

Offending God. In Romans 8, the Word clearly states and discusses the offensive nature of sin. However, when studying and reading those scriptures fully – knowing them on a deeper level. We find that what is truly offensive to God is not knowing, seeking, or accepting Him. When we accept Christ (God’s gift), we don’t just become sinless beings – it’s through the acceptance, repentance, and walk with Him that our sin is taken from us. Washed away. Cleansed from the inside out. What offends God is not receiving His gift – not agreeing with Him that we need it. There’s this notion that He is some sort of cruel father or ruler that wants to control and manipulate us. Ready, willing, wanting to punish us all. It’s a lie. A myth. A deception. Being prideful – unwilling to believe the truth – but instead choosing the lie is what offends Him. We can’t walk this life alone, we need Him.

No Second Chances. This is the tough, dirty part of it all. There are no do-overs after this life. We get one shot at this. Romans 3:10 clearly states that, “we are NOT righteous, not a single one of us.” It is only our Savior’s righteousness that makes us suffice before the Almighty. He covers us. He stands before us at the throne, exclaiming we are with Him. The ones that choose Him are represented by Him. The Bible is clear about eternity and death. In Hebrews 9:27, it lays out the facts – we die once, and after that face judgement. Therefore, it’s crucial we stand and know that He is a God of now, not tomorrow, but today! 2 Corinthians 6:2 is clear about that. “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Concluding this post, where do you stand? Have you come to grips with the fact that you will never be righteous? You will never be able to work your way into Heaven. Seems grim and dreadful, doesn’t it? It’s not! Your Father loves you! He loves you so much that He sent His ONE and ONLY son to earth. Fully God and fully man. Submitting to His will. In turn, covering us. Our sin. Our shame. Making us whole. Giving us righteousness through Him before the Father. His gift is ours to claim. Receive. Accept. The time is now. The time is today! Choose to walk with Him and know Him – before ‘it’s much too late.’

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay. I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you. Please contact us at prayers@oceanfloorministries.com so we can welcome you into the kingdom. We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.